Rimmel Provocalips

Price: AED 47 or so depending on where you purchase it from. 

Where: I got mine in the Rimmel stand inside the Lifestyle store on the Ground Floor in Dubai Mall.

Claims & Official information:"Up to 16 Hours of lip liberation. Wild without a trace!

• Kiss proof, transfer proof, food proof high impact endless colour.
• No tight feeling or dry lips. Lips feel smooth and moisturized all day long.
• Easy removal with Oil based makeup remover"

More information here.

Colour: The one i got is called Heartbreaker. It is a very warm reddish, brown. A bit on the dark side for tan/olive skin tones like me but would be a very nice everyday neutral for deeper/darker skin tones. 

Spectrum: Comes in 10 shades as per the website, but as usual for Dubai stores, the range is never complete.

Application: As per the website

"STEP 1: Apply colour and keep lips apart for 60 seconds until the product sets.

STEP 2: Apply topcoat to lock the colour, moisture and add shine."

Blendability: It blends well if a one thick layer is applied, adding more gets a bit tricky as it will go streaky and patchy in some areas.

Texture on skin: It has a tacky sort of feel to it, like how an eyelash glue feels like when it semi dries.

Finish: Matte but can be glossy when the clear top coat is applied.

Pigmentation: Pigmentation is good, but as is with most matte liquid lipsticks, it doesn't cover the moist part of your inner lips, which could look very odd.

Longevity: I find it stayed perfect for the first 2 hours without eating or drinking but the longer it stayed on, the patchier it became. It did however stay on my lips for more than 8 hours but it just looked like worn in, the-night-after lips.

Rating: 3/5

Cons: Smells unpleasant, but not strongly so and the texture isn't pleasant either because of its stickiness.

Conclusion: I love the idea that it is long-wearing but only in a situation where you wouldn't stuff your face with food. 

Wet n Wild Eyeshadow Palette - Comfort Zone and Petal Pusher

Price: Usually AED 38, but got mine during a sale for AED 28.

Where: I honestly do not remember, but will update this post when I do!

Claims: "Eight dynamic, perfectly color-coordinated shades with high pigment and pearl for ultra-impact color. Shades can be used together or individually to create an endless variety of looks." Find more information here.

Colour: I got one that's called "Comfort Zone" and another that's called "Petal Pusher". The Comfort Zone palette has a lot of Earth and Neutral tones with greens and browns and the most amazing dual chrome metallic turquoise and brown the resembles Mac's Blue Brown Pigment. The Petal Pusher is a cool toned selection with purples, plums and violets.

Spectrum: Comes in 3 colour schemes; Comfort Zone, Petal Pusher and Poster Child. Find the selections here.

Application: Flat synthetic brush to pack on the colour, wet if you want it to be vibrant. Applying it wet also changes it to a metallic finish.

Blendability: Good but not great. Too much blending oxidizes the colour into a muddy hue.

Texture on skin: Smooth and soft, but some shades, like the lighter ones are powdery and have fallout.

Finish: Satin, Dual Chrome, Shimmery, Glittery and Metallic when wet.

Pigmentation: Most have amazing colour payoff, some are patchy.

Longevity: Must have apply primer to last more than 2 hours

Rating: 5/5

Cons: Pigmentation is not strong in all the colours, some do not stay long without primer and some have powder and glitter fallout. 

Conclusion: Despite the cons I love it because 90% of the colours are pigmented and apply on smoothly, coupled with the price point, this one is a knockout!

P.S: The dupe for Mac's Blue Brown Pigment tho! Need I say more!?

Look: More pictures of the makeup look here.

Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Lipstick

Price: AED 49 or so depending on where you purchase it from. 

Where: I got mine in the Rimmel stand inside ICONIC in Dubai Mall. I believe that stand no longer exists.

Claims: "The 1st Lipstick collection created by Kate Moss High intensity colour for up to 8 hours. Formula infused with Black Diamonds, reflects light like never before. Captures all the flair, edge and timelessness of Kate’s unique look." Find more information here.

Colour: I got mine in 101 and 103. 101 is a baby pink with a white base that will wash me out if I do not apply some darker shade lip liner. 103 is a more coral pink that will make you appear more tanned. Sometimes I find it hard to pull either one off,so I mix them both and the outcome is more wearable for Asian skin tones like mine. 

Spectrum: Comes in 15 shades as per the website, but as usual for Dubai stores, the range is never complete.

Application: I find its easier to apply it straight from the tube without using a brush and pat it on with your finger.

Blendability: It can get patchy if you apply too many layers and slide your finger over it.

Texture on skin: Smooth and rough at the same time, almost feels powdery with chunks of product buildup.

Finish: Matte and sometimes drying, especially if your lips are chapped.

Pigmentation: Amazing colour payoff but will become patchy and slide around if too many layers are put on.

Longevity: I would say 2 full hours without eating or drinking much.

Rating: 4/5

Cons: Texture is matte but also powdery or "papery".

Conclusion:I love it because its matte, and because of its amazing colour selection, and most of all its affordable price. The packaging is super cute too!

Look: Here.

Dip & Dip

Price: For 2 Dhs, 60

Where: Level 1, in front of the Food Court, Arabian Centre, Mirdif, Dubai.

Cuisine: Desserts drenched in chocolate.

Branches: 4 including Al Ain and Abu Dhabi

Contact Details: 04-4423041

Menu: Desserts. Mostly crepes with various fillings doused in chocolate. The drinks follow the same chocolatey concept. Browse their menu here.

Best Seller: I've heard raving reviews about the Fettuccini Crepe, but I have my own favourite :)

Dishes Ordered: Mallow Crepe and Cinnamon Spiced Latte

Appetizers: Umm chocolate?

Drinks: Water, Softdrinks, Frappes, Smoothies, Milk Shakes, Iced Tea Shakes, Coffee, Affogato, Oreo shake

Desserts: Its all about desserts.

Ambiance: Clean and family friendly, nothing romantic as the space is quite open with bright lighting and open to noise from the adjacent food court.

Staff: There is a lady that seats you and a waiter to take orders. I found the waiter pretty knowledgeable and good with recommendations. 

Rating: 4/5

Pros: If you are craving a chocolate feast there is no better place. It has amazing no-fuss dishes that won't burn a hole through your pocket.

Cons: Their branch in Arabian Centre is strange as they have two cafes opposite each other. One would have been better off being a bit more closed which would appeal to the adults without children

Conclusion: I highly recommend the Mallow Crepe and the Spiced Latte. Its like a softer more elegant version of a smore and the cinnamon gives the latte a very sophisticated twist!

Royal & Langnickel Makeup Brush Set

Price: Dhs. 59

Where: Lifestyle stores nationwide, but mine in  Mirdif City Centre.

Colour: Many variations, mine was mostly black. Others came in Magenta, Blue and Yellow if I remember correctly.

Features: Comes with 5 brushes (I would argue 51/2) but one is double sided. Also comes in a portable book case with Velcro straps. 

Longevity: Not yet tested but looks and feels pretty durable.

Rating: 4/5

Details: All the brushes are very soft with nicely packed bristles; the face brushes were dense and the eye brushes were not too sparse either. I have used them about 2 or 3 times now and haven't noticed any shedding yet.

Conclusion: A good set of tools for beginners at an amazingly affordable price point. They do the job they are meant to pretty well and the quality at that price is impressive.

Rimmel 25 Hour Lasting Finish Nude Foundation - New Formulation

Price: Dhs. 60 or so

Where: Lifestyle stores nationwide, but mine in  Mirdif City Centre.

Colour: 400 Natural Beige, which is a tad dark and cool toned for me.

Spectrum: Has 7 available shades, mostly cool toned

Consistency: New formulation and is therefore thinner and more runny than the old formulation which I love. Read about the old formulation here.

Application: Fingers or flat brush to apply, buffing brush to blend into the skin.

Blendability: Easily blended due to light consistency

Texture on skin: Smooth and soothing, doesn't grab or drag the skin

Finish: Sets semi matte but most of the time dewy on me due to my oily skin, also oxidizes because of that. 

Coverage: Claims full but personally I find it medium but buildable

Longevity: Around 3 to 4 without primer or touching up with powder

Rating: 4/5

Cons: Not as thick, full coverage or long lasting as the old formulation

Conclusion: Great for someone with dry skin and is looking for an everyday, medium coverage foundation

ELF Eyeshadow Palette

Price: $20

Where: I got mine from Philippines but you can find it here

Claims: Apparently, one of Oprah's favourites, as written here

Colour: Not all are pigmented, but the ones that are, are highly so. Some are powdery while some are buttery and not all are easy to blend. One striking strange characteristic of some of the colours, especially the browns is that they don't transfer true to the colour they appear on the pan.  

Spectrum: Has a wide variety but limited texture/finish; there are no metallic or shimmery ones, only mattes and satins

Application: Flat synthetic brush to pack on the colour, wet if you want it to be vibrant but too much blending with a fluffy brush greatly diffuses the colour and sort of oxidizes it with a grey tint

Blendability: Not as well as expected

Texture on skin: Smooth but some are powdery and chunky as shown in the picture

Finish: Mostly matte, some satin

Pigmentation: Not all are great but considering price and colour selection seems tolerable

Longevity: Must have apply primer to last more than 2 hours

Rating: 3/5

Cons: Pigmentation is not strong in all the colours, some do not stay long without primer 

Conclusion: I would recommend this to beginners as the basic colours are there, and the neutral ones have moderate amount of pigmentation, not to mention the price is affordable considering the amount of colours available